"The 33"-Road Bike RacingWe set this forum up for our members to discuss their experiences in either pro or amateur racing, whether they are the big races, or even the small backyard races. Don't forget to update all the members with your own race results.

sheesh. i have my first organized ride today (it's not a race, tho, i'm sure some will treat as such) - the frostbite tour and it starts rolling at 9am. i've been up since 5:30am!!

i couldn't go back to sleep cause i was worried about not getting up then. so, here i am, having my organic pb & honey sandwich on whole wheat and a bit of OJ, all ready to go. just wish i could go on, but it's only about a 15min drive to the start.

is anyone up??

__________________wolfpackcycles
skiffrun: Enjoy the ride. Ride for the enjoyment.

I prefer to arrive at the venue 1 hour before the start. I factor in driving time (1.5*actual estimated time, or 1.25*Google's estimated time) so I can get stuck in traffic and not freak out. This usually puts me at the venue 1.5-2+ hours before the start.

I warm up, at best, for about 15-30 minutes (most racers do 30-60 minutes), so I spend most of the time trying not to get distracted talking with people I know. I have to do things like pump up tires, get wheels to pit (if applicable), figure out what fluids I'm carrying, dress, do any resetting of computers/camcorders/etc, pin/glue number, figure out what to do with keys and other misc stuff, and get to the line without flatting a tire.

For Prospect, it's different. When I lived an hour away, I'd pack the car the night before, be up at 4:30, out the door at 5:00, and get to the venue at 6. I'd ride to registration (few hundred yards), and sometimes be pinning my number at the start line (the line is always long for registration). My warmup would be the ride to registration. Now that I live 3-3.5 hours away... I don't know what to do. Maybe get close the night before and sleep in the car? Or take the van with a generator and microwave... That sounds better.

For a ride ride, not a race, I tend to get there late. Miss the big mass of riders starting at the scheduled start time. Tour de Palm Springs this year we started almost 2 hours after the official start time.

I prefer to arrive at the venue 1 hour before the start. I factor in driving time (1.5*actual estimated time, or 1.25*Google's estimated time) so I can get stuck in traffic and not freak out. This usually puts me at the venue 1.5-2+ hours before the start.

I warm up, at best, for about 15-30 minutes (most racers do 30-60 minutes), so I spend most of the time trying not to get distracted talking with people I know. I have to do things like pump up tires, get wheels to pit (if applicable), figure out what fluids I'm carrying, dress, do any resetting of computers/camcorders/etc, pin/glue number, figure out what to do with keys and other misc stuff, and get to the line without flatting a tire.

+1000

Thats my ideal situation. The problem is I'm in charge of travel for my team. Trying to get 15 college kids awake and on the road at 5:30 in the morning is like herding cats.

Edit: People on my team also need to realize that 1 hour before a race is not the ideal time to be working on your bike.

Morning group rides: I get up half an hour before it would be necessary for me to leave. Quick shower, down two or three bowls of cereal down the hatch, slam a bottle of water, drop a fatty in the water closet, and out the door.

Races: Get up several hours before the race. I like to have my final meal about 2hrs before the start, and usually down a gel or powerbar when people are gathering at the line. One bottle of sports drink, one bottle of water. Alternate between the sports drink and water, preferably using the sports drink up first. A good spray of water down the back feels good towards the end of a race.

I get up at 0500 for work, so I'm used to early mornings. As a general rule, if I'd have to get up earlier than 0430 I'll drive to the location the night before and do the hobo thing and sleep in my car or camp out. I can't afford gas, race fees AND hotels all the time.

It's why I drive a Subaru Outback. Excellent car sleeping setup

I like to be at the race site 2 hours before hand to ensure a stress free registration and warmup.

I've recently discovered that the closer it is to home, the later and more rushed we will be. Need to plan better and not get comfortable with close venues.

That said...for the crits G has been racing lately we get there an 1:15 before race time, factor in driving time, get up an hour before that.

For our double centuries, there's no need to warm up, so we try to get there no less than 30 minutes before start time if we've already checked in the night before. Last week it was 15 minutes from home and we were running late...only got there 20 minutes before the start.

The first race I went to this season was with someone who had never raced before. I've got a very smooth pre-race routine, so I forgot just how stressful it can be. He was running around like a chicken with its head cut off. He was so nervous I though he was going to puke.